Engraving machine



Feb. 19, 1935. J. SHILKOFF ENGRAVING MACH'INE Filed may 20, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEQNTOR L/Ac05 SH/L/ro/T".

Y z 1 ATTORNEY-S i Feb. 19, J, sHlLKOFF 1,991,963

ENGRAVING'MACHINE Filed May 20, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR @005 JH/L/rQF/i.

wrru 55s: 5 M

ATTORNEYS Feb. 19, 1935'. J sHlLKOFF 1,991,963

ENGRAVING MACHINE Filed May 20, 1933 I5 Sheets-Sheet 3 wn-uzss: Z W

I A'ITORN EYS Patented Feb. 19, 1935 UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE I This invention relates to new and useful improvements in engraving machines and more par ticularly it pertains to engraving machines of the type employed for preparing printing plates.

One object of the present invention is to improve the construction and mode of operation of engraving machines and to provide such machines with mechanism which will effect a better and more efiicient engraving operation than prior machines.

A feature of the invention resides in the provision, in a machine of the character above outlined, of a plurality of engraving tools or cutters which operate either singly or simultaneously upon the work upon which the operation is being carried out.

Another feature of the invention resides in .the provision of light sensitive means and a novel mechanism whereby the light sensitive means are employed to control the operation of the engraving tools.

Still another feature of the invention resides in the provision of means for automatically rendering the engraving tools singly or individually operative and inoperative.

Still a further feature of the invention resides in a novel construction whereby a plurality of engraving tools are supported in such a manner that they move over the work being operated upon and are automatically moved into and out of engagement with the work to perform properly the engraving function upon the work.

Other features of the invention relate to certain novel and improved constructions, arrangements and combinations of parts hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the advantages of which will be readily understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art.

The invention will be clearly understood from the accompanying drawings illustrating the invention in its preferred form-and the following detailed description of the constructions therein shown.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a machine constructed in accordance with the present invention,

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view thereof taken substantially on the line 22 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken substantiallyon the line 3-3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line 44 of Figure 2,

I bearing 19.

- Figure 5 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 4,

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view taken at right angles to Figure 5, and;

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the circuit of one of the light sensitive devices for controlling the engraving tools. v

Referring to the drawings by reference numeral, 10 designates a suitable support or base which in. the present instance is carried upon legs 11 Which support the same. The base 10 is provided with a plurality of trackways 12 which although herein illustrated as of inverted T-shape may be of any desirable shape. The base 10 forms a support for the work being operated on which is illustrated in Figure 3 as a printing plate A which comprises the wooden or other block B upon which the plate to be routed and engraved and designated Cis mounted in the usual manner. As best illustrated in Figure 2 the base 10 is cutaway as indicated at 13 to receive the block B and the block B is clamped in the cut away portion by means of a gripping element or member 14 threaded as at 15 upon an operating rod 16 operated by a hand wheel 17 at the forward end thereof, the rear end 18 being mounted in a Thus as the rod 16 is rotated by the hand wheel 17 the clamp '14 may be moved into orout of engagement with the block B to secure the work in position upon the bed or base 10.

.The reference numeral 20 designates a carriage I which extends across the machine and has tracks 21 mounted in the trackways 12 as best illustrated in Figure 3 and this carriage 20 is adapted to move across the top of the base or support 10 in a step by step manner as will be hereinafter more specifically described.

Depending from the forward portion of the machine there is a member 22 and a similar member23 depends from the rear portion of the machine. In these depending members 22 and 23 there is mounted ashaft 25, the rear portion of which is threaded as at 26 and which has threaded engagement as at 27 in a member 23 which depends from the carriage 20 heretofore mentioned. This shaft carries a ratchet wheel 27 which is secured thereto in order to produce a partial rotation of the shaft 25 upon operation of the ratchet wheel 27. By reference to Figure 3, it will be noted that the ratchet wheel 27 is operated by a pawl or dog 28 which is slidably, mounted as at 29 in the base 10 of the machine and which has a vertically extending portion 30 which terminates in a portion 31, which overlies the carriage 20 as best illustrated in Figures 3 and 4.

The carriage 20 is formed with trackways 35 in which are slidably mounted tracks 36 forming a part of a carriage 37. The carriage 3'? has a plurality of upstanding lugs or bearing members 38 in which bearings is pivotally mounted a platform 39, the pivot point of said platform being designated 40.

The carriage 37 is adapted to be reciprocated transversely of the carriage 20 and for this purpose an arm 41 is pivotally mounted in a bearing 42 upon the carriage 20. As best shown in Figure 1 this arm 41 is rocked about this pivotal point by means of a cam 43 which is carried upon the lower end of a shaft 44 mountedin a bearing 45 on the carriage 20, see Figure 2. The opposite end of the arm 41 is slotted as at 46, see Figure 1,

and this slotted end receives a pin 47 upon the car-,

riage 37. Thus as the arm 41 is rocked about this pivotal point 42, the engagement with the pin 47 will cause movement of the carriage 37 in the direction of the arrow C in Figure 1. As best illustrated in Figure 2, a worm wheel 48 is secured as at 49 to the upper end of the shaft 44 and as best illustrated in Figure 1 a worm gear 50 meshes with the worm wheel 48. The worm gear 50 is carried by the shaft 51 which projects from a suitable reducing gear transmission 52, which latter is driven by a suitable motor 53.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that as the worm gear 50 is driven the worm wheel 48 will drive the shaft 44 rotating the cam 43 to effect the desired movement of the arm 41. A suitable spring 54 may be employed to cushiongthe oscillating movement of the arm 41, the spring being connected as at 55 to the carriage 20 at one end and as at 56 to the arm 41 at its other end.

The platform 39 carries at its outer edge a plurality of bearing members 5'7. Each of these bearing members 5'? carries an engraving tool or cutter and for the sake of illustration these engraving tools or cutters will be designated 58, 59, 60 and 61. Each bearing is mounted for vertical sliding movement relative to the outer edge of the platform 39 and this movement is effected by means of an adjusting rod 62 having an operating knob 63, there being one of said rods 62 for each of the bearings 57.

Means is provided for driving each of the several engraving tools, and inasmuch as this means is the same in each instance I will describe but one of said driving means. Carried by the platform 39 there is a motor 60'. This motor, through the medium of a belt 61' and pulley 62', drives a shaft 63'. On this shaft 63' there is a plurality of pulleys 64. Passing around each of the pulleys 64 there is a belt 65 which passes around a pulley 66 carried by the upper end of each of the engraving tools. Thus as' the motor 60' is driven through the medium of the gearing just described the several engraving tools will likewise be driven.

Associated with each of the engraving tools there is a light sensitive device 70 preferably in the form of a photo-electric cell. This light sensitive device in each instance may be adjustably connected as at '71 to an arm '72 which projects forwardly from the platform 39. Also carried by each arm '72 and adjustably connected thereto as at '74 there is a bracket which carries a suitable illuminating device '76. It is to be understood that there is a light sensitive device '70 and an illuminating device '76 for each of the engraving tools, this being illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings. 4

Means is provided to raise and lower each of the bearing members 57 and this consists of a extension of each bearing member and the platform 39 there is a coil spring 81 which tends at all times to depress the lever '77 about its pivotal point 78. Connected as at 82 to each lever there is a core 83 of a solenoid 84 and each of these solenoids is connected by means of suitable conductors and suitable conventional apparatus with its respective light sensitive device '70, in such a manner that action of the light sensitive device will energize the magnet 84 to rock the lever "77 upwardly and elevate its respective hearing member against the tension of the spring 81. When the electromagnet 84 is de-energized the spring 81 will tend to force the forward end of the lever 7'7 downwardly. By this mechanism, the

engraving tools or cutters are moved either into" or out of engagement with the work C being operated upon.

The conventional mechanism herein illustrated as the connection between each light sensitive element or photo-electric cell 70 and its respective electromagnet 84, may be, and is herein illustrated in the diagrammatic figure, as of the same construction, arrangement and operation as that illustrated in the patent to F. D. Pearne et al., No. 1,719,621, of July 2, 1929 and this particular part of this apparatus forms no part of my invention.

The device operates in the following manner.

The several parts are set initially in the position in which they are shown in Figure 1. Upon starting the motor 53 the carriage 37 will be reciprocated from top to bottom in Figure 1, although this will be from left to right in the machine, by the mechanism heretofore described. As the carriage 3'7 reaches the bottom or right hand side of the machine it engages the portion 31 of the member which operates thepawl or dog 28 moving it to the right in Figure 3 against the tension of the spring 30'. This will operate the ratchet wheel 27 giving. a partial rotation to the shaft 25 and feeding the carriage 20 a predetermined distance to the left in Figure 1. After this action has taken place the carriage 37 is returned to the opposite side of the machine for another traversing operation by continuous rotation of the cam 43.

Means is provided to elevate the engraving tools out of contact with the work being operated upon during its return movement of the carriage 3'7 and this means comprises a pair of stops and 91 mounted on the carriage 20. Mounted upon the carriage 37 there is a sliding member 94 having two depending arms or extensions 95 and 96. This member 94 has an intermediate cam portion 97 adapted to engage a lever 98, see Figures 5 and 6. The lever 98 is pivoted as at 99 in the carriage 37-. Thus as the carriage 37 moves towards the bottom ofthe figure in Figure 1 the extension 95 of the lever 94 will engage the stop 90 and move the member 94 to the left in Figure 5. This action will rock the lever 98 about its pivotal point and its outer end 100, by reason of the fact that it underlies its respective bearing member 57, and will elevate the same and hold the engraving tools up out of engagement with the work being operated upon until the return movement of the carriage 37 has been completed, whereupon the portion 96 of the member 94 will engage the stop 91 and move the member 94 to the position in which it is shown in Figure 5, releasing the lever 98 and permitting the engraving tool to again move downwardly into engagement with the work being operated upon. It is understood that there will be one of these levers 98 for each bearing member of an engraving tool and that the member 94 will be provided with a series of earns 97 to operate these several members simultaneously.

The several light sensitive elements 70 will be of different characteristics and they are so constructed that the light sensitive device of the first engraving tool to engage the work, that is the tool 58 in Figure 3, will be maintained in engagement with the work until it closely approaches the printing portion of the plate being prepared. It will then by reason of theaction of its light sensitive device be elevated as heretofore described out of engagement with the work. The next two engraving tools 59 and 60 in Figure 3 are of such character as to perform a lighter cutting operating as to be more sensitive than the light sensitive device of the engraving tool 58. Therefore, these tools will cut closer to the defining edge of the printing surface and provide the finished cut.

By this construction it will be apparent that a printing plate may be automatically routed by this device with extreme accuracy and precision and that its preparation by the machine is entirely automatic.

The cutting tool 61 and its light sensitive device are of different character than the cutting tools 58, 59 and 60 in that it is not used in all operations. This tool is only used where it is desired to out entirely through the printing plate and this light sensitive device would be of such character as to be responsive to a color. For example, if the light sensitive device of the cutting tool 61 be responsive to yellow and the portion of the plate to be removed be defined by a yellow line, each time the cutting tool approaches the yellow line its light sensitive device will respond to the yellow, operate the electro magnet of this cutting tool as described and lower the same into engagement with the plate and permit it to pass entirely therethrough. Thus when the operation has been completed the part of the plate to be removed will be completely severed from the plate.

It is contemplated that during the operation of the machine the several tools may cut or operate simultaneously or singly depending upon the character of the work being operated upon and that the entire operation of the machine after the same has once been started will be automatic.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and what it is desired to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In a machine of the character described, a work supporting bed, a carriage mounted for movement over said bed, a plurality of continuously rotating engraving tools mounted upon said carriage and movable thereby over said bed, a pivotally mounted frame for mounting said tools upon said carriage, and means for rocking said pivotally mounted frame about its pivotal point to simultaneously move the several tools towards or away from the work supporting bed.

2. In a machine of the character described, a work supporting bed, a carriage mounted for movement over said bed, a plurality of continuously rotating engraving tools mounted upon said carriage and movable thereby over said bed, a pivotally mounted frame for mounting said tools upon said carriage, and means for rocking said pivotally mounted frame about its pivotal point to simultaneously move the several tools towards or away from the workgsupporting bed, said last mentioned means being operated by the carriage in its movement over the work supporting bed.

3. In a machine of the character described, a work supporting bed, a carriage mounted for movement over said bed, a plurality of continuously rotating engraving tools mounted upon said carriage and movable thereby over said bed, a pivotally mounted frame in which said tools are mounted and by which they may be moved simultaneously into and out of engagement with a piece of work mounted upon the work' supporting bed, and'means for pivotally mounting said tools in'said pivotally mounted frame whereby to permit individual movement of the tools into and out of engagement with a piece of work on said work supporting bed, independently of movement of the pivoted frame.

4. In a machine of the character described, a work supporting bed, a carriagemounted for reciprocating movement over said base, a tool carrying frame pivotally mounted on said carriage, a plurality of tool supporting arms pivotally mounted in said pivoted frame, said tool supporting arms being capable of movement simultaneously with the pivoted frame .and individually, independently of said pivoted frame, a tool carried by each of said tool supporting arms, and means for operating said tool supporting arms independently of said pivoted frame.

5. In a machine of the character described, a work supporting bed, a tool carriage mounted for reciprocating movement over said bed, means for reciprocating said toolcarriage over said bed, a frame pivotally mounted on said tool carriage and movable about its pivotal point towards and away from said frame, means for automatically moving said tool carriage toward and away from the work supporting bed as the tool carriage is reciprocated thereover, a plurality of tool carrying arms pivotally mounted in said pivoted frame, a cutting tool carried by each of said arms, and means for moving said tool supporting arms about their pivotal point independently of any pivotal movement of the pivoted frame and selectively with respect to one another.

6. An automatic electric photo-engraving machine for engraving printing plates, said machine comprising a suitable plate support, a carriage movable over said plate support, a plurality of tool carrying members mounted on said carriage for movement towards and away from said plate support, engraving tools carried by said tool carrying members, adjustable means for limiting the extent of cutting of said cutting tools and means for moving the tool carrying members towards and away from the plate support to effect a cutting operation by the tools.

7. An automatic electric printing plate forming machine comprising in combination, a printing plate support, a carriage movable over said printing plate support, tool supporting members mounted on said carriage and movable towards andaway from said plate support, an engraving tool carried by one of said tool supporting members, a plate severing tooLcarried by one of said tool carrying members, and means for independmember and its tool ently operating said engraving and cutting tool carrying members to move them towards and away from-said plate support.

8. An automatic electric printing plate forming machine comprising in combination, a plate support, a carriage movable over said plate support, a tool carrying member mounted on said carriage for movement towards and away from said plate support, a routing tool carried by said tool carrying member, means for moving the tool carrying member and its tool towards the plate support, separate means for moving the tool carrying member and itstool away from the plate support, a second tool carrying member mounted on said carriage, a plate severing tool carried by said second mentioned tool carrying member, means for moving said second mentioned tool carrying towards said plate support to efiect a severing of a portion of a plate mounted thereon, and separate means for moving said second mentioned tool carrying member and its tool away from the plate support.

9. An automatic electricprinting plate preparing machine comprising in combination a plate supporting bed, a carriage movable over said bed, a second carriage movable over said first mentioned carriage, a platform pivotally mounted on said second mentioned carriage, a plurality of tools carried by said platform, means for continuously driving said tools during operation of the machine, means for moving said tools into engagement with a plate mounted on the plate supporting bed, and means for moving said tools simultaneously out of engagement with a plate carried by the plate supporting bed.

10. In a machine of the type described, a work supporting bed, cutting tools, means for moving said cutting tools over said work supporting bed,

means for mounting said cutting tools upon said tool feeding means, means tending normally to movesaid cutting tools into engagement with a piece of work mounted upon said work supporting bed, individual adjustable means for limiting the movement of each cutting tool in the direction of the work and means for selectively moving said tools out of engagement with a piece-of work mounted upon the work supporting bed.

11. In a machine of the type described, a work supporting bed, a plurality of continuously operating routing tools adapted to rout apiece of work carried by said work supporting bed, a cutting tool adapted to sever a portion of a piece of work carried upon the work supporting bed, means normally forcing said routing tools into engagement with the work being operated upon, means for selectively moving said routing tools out of engagement with the work carried by the work supporting bed, and means for periodically moving the cutting tool into and out of engagement with the work carried on the work supporting bed.

12. A machine of the type described comprising in combination, a work supporting bed, a plurality of routing tools, means for supporting said routing tools over the work supporting bed and for'movingthem into and out of engagement with a piece of work being operated on, a cutting tool for severing a section from a piece of work mounted on the work supporting bed, and means for moving the cutting tool into and out of engagement with a piece of work mounted upon the work supporting bed, the mounting and operating means of the cutting tool being operable independently of the mounting and operating means of the routing tools.

JACOB SHILKOFF. 

